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Spring time means it is time to get your house ready for the warm months ahead. This spring cleaning checklist will help you to make sure that your house is ready! If you need any help or if you discover some things that need to be looked at, do not hesitate to give us a call for an estimate!

SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST FOR YOUR HOME

EXTERIOR

Inspect your roof. Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against water damage. Now is the time to have your roof inspected and any damage repaired.

Clean gutters & downspouts. Gutters & downspouts direct rain away from your roof and home, protecting both in the process. Clogged gutters & downspouts, meanwhile, open your home to water damage—and there’s a good chance you won’t notice the damage until you need an expensive repair.

Clear vegetation around your AC compressor. To work efficiently, the compressor needs good airflow. Prune any plant growth that may block it.

Check seals around windows, doors/garage door.Winter weather can crack and harden caulk and other weather seals. Inspect them now and repair and replace as needed. You’ll reduce your air-conditioning bill and could prevent water from entering your home and causing damage.

Clean windows. Larry Miller, Inc. is a local company we recommend that specializes in windows, gutters, power washing and roof cleaning services. Larry can be reached at 703-723-7770 or you can visit their website at www.windowcleaningservice.net.

Shutters. Check for loose shutters; fasten securely as needed.

Walkways. Check for broken, loose or missing bricks or pavers; repair or replace as needed.

Drainage. Shrubs and landscaping help against soil erosion and should be planted to form a negative grade, which means water will flow away from the house

Bug Spray. Spray for bugs around the exterior of your home to prevent them from coming inside.

Outdoor Furniture. If you stored your lawn furniture for the winter, bring it outdoors and give it a hose rinse, or wash it with a mild detergent. For metal furniture, check for signs of rust or paint erosion; a simple remedy of spray enamel will prevent further damage from sun, rain and humidity in the months ahead.

Grills. If your gas grill has remained idle over the winter months, check burner jets for clogs and obstructions, and be sure that gas hoses and connections are sound and secure. You’ll also want to check for propane. For charcoal grill owners, make certain your grill is clean of ash and free of grease residue. It’s a good habit to adopt throughout the grilling season, not just in the spring.

INTERIOR

Clean or replace your HVAC filters. A dirty filter forces your HVAC system to work harder, which in turn drains your wallet. It could also shorten the life of your blower motor.

Vacuum your refrigerator coils. The coils you’ll find on the bottom or back of your refrigerator conduct the hot air from inside the unit. If they’re coated with dust, they do the job less efficiently and cause your fridge to work harder. That means a higher electric bill for you. Use a vacuum cleaner hose or a brush to clean the coils.

Replace the batteries in your smoke & carbon monoxide detectors. You never know when you’ll need them. Sometimes, it’s a matter of life or death, so take the time to change the batteries now.

Fire Extinguishers. Be sure you have at least one fire extinguisher in your home. Ideally, you should have two or three depending on the size of your house. Reading the instructions and checking for an expiration date is also important. Not all fire extinguishers expire, but some do.

Garage. Sweep out garage and reorganize.

Attic.Check attic for proper ventilation and insulation. Look for obstructions over vents, damaged soffit panels, roof leaks and wet spots on insulation. Good airflow and adequate insulation will save you $ in cooling costs.

Sump Pump. Check your sump pump. If you do not have a battery backup, have one installed. The backup, another pump that floats above the original pump, will kick on when the electricity/power goes out. If your sump pump fails, an alarm goes off, letting you know the backup is working. A few hundred dollars will save you thousands in water damage.